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OUT OF THE BOX AWAKENING by Jennifer Theriot

Olivia is a good woman, a good mother, a good wife. She’s got it made. She doesn’t want anything to change.

Of course, it does…

Swept from her perfect paper-doll life in Houston, Olivia finds herself in Chicago, alone, betrayed, and far from home. Soon everything she thought she knew about herself and her life will be challenged. She has only courage, love, and her passion for music to carry her through the maelstrom—or draw her further in.

Ash is the man who has everything—everything except healing from the losses of a lifetime. His only peace lies in the sweet flow of music pouring from his guitar.

What happens when the married woman and the handsome widower are thrown together by fate?

Out of the Box Awakening is a story of shared passion and shared joy. Jennifer Theriot has written a compelling book about what happens when two people find new life and new love for themselves and for those around them.

TBIRD’S REVIEW

This is a wonderful story of starting your life over again as a middle-aged woman. Olivia spent her life caring for her three children and husband only to find that after a move across the country she was left with nothing. Lucky for her, she and her husband had moved in with Ash when they first moved there so they could find the perfect house, but her husband found the perfect mistress instead and Ash was there to pick up the pieces for Olivia.

This story has a list of interesting characters, Todd was my favorite. Olivia had a talent of bringing people together as she blended her grown children into the family with Ash and his three grown children. She helped build bridges between Ash and two of his sons while she helped Todd heal from a broken heart of losing those closest to him. One of the strongest messages in this book was you don’t have to be blood to be family and Olivia made sure everyone was accepted into their huge family.

Ash is just a middle-aged dream boat. He is in charge of making sure everyone has what they need and are protected and cared for, while opening doors to Olivia that she never dreamed were even there. He teaches her that no matter what age you are, you are still a sexual person. He has all the money he could ever need and he has no problem spending it on those he loves.

This book will make you cry at times as you see the hearts broken but then the author gives you moments that you find you are laughing out loud. Her characters are real and they suck you in from the first chapter. Ms. Theriot has a way of expressing the story in a manner that you can feel the emotions of the characters and be able to put yourself in their place. While the POV switches around a lot in this book, I found this to give the reader the element of feeling like you were in the room chatting with the characters. I can hardly wait to see what happens with Ash and Olivia, Todd and Tommy and the rest of the family in the next book. This story is presented to you as real life. It mimics the real world so much with it plot and flow, it is easy to just slide over into their reality and forget your own. Well done Ms.Theriot.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. How did you come up with the characters in your book? Do you have anyone in your real life that you seem to of written a character about or all they all made up in the genius mind of yours?

The whole book was conceived when I visited an open house my daughter was working. The house was beautiful, huge and amazing! It had been ‘staged’ by a home tender , who I learned was a single pilot. From there, seeing this amazing house and the gorgeous furnishings he added I just started putting together characters and the theme of the book. I visited the house several times during open houses and walked around getting ideas. I could visualize all of the characters I created in my mind and just started writing from there.

Ash was totally made up. He’s the man every woman dreams of. He is sexy, confident and the ultimate guy in my mind.

In real life, I suppose my kids fit the bill for Olivia’s own children. The ages and personalities just fit so well. They way the boys interact with Olivia is much the same way the relationship is between me and my boys. My boys tease me relentlessly that I’m forever young, so I just had to incorporate that with Olivia.

2. What is the message you want your readers to get out of Ash and Olivia’s story?

I want the reader to come away after reading the book realizing that there IS hope after heartache. Life doesn’t stop when someone you loved for so long stops loving you. Everything happens for a reason – people are sent into our lives for a purpose. There is a knight in shining armor for every woman. I want every woman to embrace their inner and outer beauty and step outside the box. Be confident in your womanhood! Feeling good about yourself takes a lot of time and soul searching, believe me! When you find someone who loves and worships you for what you are, be it as a friend or a lover – that is the best feeling in the world! Above all, the gift of family, love, and romance are there….you just have to believe.

3. I know all of your characters are very important to you, but who is your favorite and the most fun to write for?

My favorite character, besides Ash is Todd. In my mind, Adam Levine is Todd. He’s a quirky, hot guy who is a definite womanizer. In book 1, we see him for that but his relationship with Olivia proves that he’s truly great guy. He is so much more than a rock star. He sees Olivia as his mentor, his friend and confidant. She accepts him unconditionally and the bond of their incredible friendship grows stronger from book 1 to book 2. It’s an unconventional but a very deep and meaningful friendship.

4. Out of the Box Regifted is in the process of being written now. Do you still have the same strong emotions while writing this book as you did with Out of the Box Awakening? Is the message you are trying to give the readers the same or has it progressed with Olivia’s growing strength?

Book 2, Out of the Box Regifted has much more emotion I think. We follow Olivia’s journey to discovering herself. With Ash, she is able to completely step out of her comfort zone, her box and discover feelings she never knew she had. He is the ultimate lover and companion. He encourages her with love to progress and not regress. He compliments her and makes her feel desired, loved and needed; something she never felt with Alan, her ex. In Regifted, I want readers to feel every emotion and go there with Olivia. She has many inhibitions and fears to overcome but Ash makes her feel comfortable in her own skin. The relationship between the two of them grows immensely in book 2, as do the depth of the family and friends. She and Ash go on a sexual journey that is incredible!

5. What has been your greatest experience so far in becoming a published author?

The greatest experience, I think is when readers write a review and all concur in the fact that romance, friends and family are so important. As older women, we tend to think of ourselves as outdated and not sexy. That is not the case! I want women to find themselves – go out and buy sexy lingerie….have fun! Life is there for the taking.

Seeing the younger group of readers embrace my book is pretty amazing as well. I wanted Out of the Box Awakening to appeal to all ages.

I literally poured out emotion in the book and to see readers feel the same is wonderful. Though the book centers around a middle aged couple finding romance and love, there are younger characters who are vital to the book.

Honestly I can say I cried many tears while writing it and when a reader remarks that they cried, experienced angst, anger and the happiness I felt is the best feeling. Hearing how they connected to the characters is a writer’s dream!

6. Where do you see the story of Ash and Olivia going in the next book? Do you plan for a third book?

In Out of the Box Regifted, we see Ash and Olivia deepen their relationship. There is a wedding – a fabulous wedding…(I won’t say who) and lots of love and emotion. Olivia steps further outside her box and comes to believe in herself as a sexy and desirable woman. The family unit strengthens and a few more characters are added. Book 3, Out of the Box Everlasting takes Ash and Olivia to the final step. I’ll admit there will be a small cliffhanger at the end of Regifted, so you’ll definitely have to read Everlasting! I’ve planned the series as ARE

Out of the Box Awakening, Out of the Box Regifted and Out of the Box Everlasting….ARE so you’ll know which book to read first:)

7. Other than selling the books, what is your greatest wish for this series? How it impacts the readers, that it gives a middle aged woman the understanding that life isn’t over after divorce?

OH MY GOD YES! My greatest hope is that the reader will find hope in all three books. I want women to know that life doesn’t end when we hit middle age It doesn’t end when you divorce. Sex and romance are NOT over, they’ve only just begun. My sincere hope is that women will feel good about themselves after reading the book. If Olivia can do it, you can. When you have someone in your life who worships and adores you, you should embrace it and take it for everything. Love is good, sex is better and you should go into middle aged life confident and secure with yourself. No matter what size you are or how you think you look to others, it is important that you look inside yourself as well. Be happy with the person your are – the person God made and remember, God doesn’t make mistakes…. Don’t second guess yourself. And by all means – if you have someone who truly loves you, step out of the box and embrace it….!

8. Why do you think Todd is so misunderstood by some readers? Are we going to see more of the real Todd in the next book?

Todd is definitely misunderstood. Olivia has the ability to get to him like no one has ever been able to. Through his friendship with Olivia he is able to convey his true feelings. He’s a cocky, conceited guy but puts up a front. Olivia is the only one who has been able to break through. In book 2, we’ll see the depth of this friendship.

9. Describe Ash in four words.

Confident, Strong, Loving, Sexy

10. Describe Olivia in four words.

Steadfast, tenacious, giving selfless

Jennifer Theriot hails from the Great State of Texas. She is a career woman, working as CFO of a Texas based real estate investment firm, while happily living with her husband. Working in her capacity as CFO, she felt something was missing and discovered her passion for writing novels – mostly at night and on weekends.

In her limited spare time Jennifer enjoys being outdoors; preferably somewhere on a beach curled up with a good book! Spending time with family and friends, watching a baseball game and enjoying a good bottle of wine are usually on her to-do lists. Jennifer is also ‘MiMi’ to two beautiful grandchildren and a mom to three grown children, all of whom she adores. Theriot is an admitted music junkie, loving every type of music, which takes up most of the memory on her iPhone. She listens to music from sun up to sun down and her love of music is reflected a great deal in her books.

Jennifer took a chance that there could be an interest in romance with middle aged couples who are finding themselves at a crossroads and wrote her debut novel Out of the Box Awakening, which centers on the hope of finding happiness and passion through unexpected heartache. It emphasizes the need for family and friends as Jennifer has learned in her own life. The book has been described as “Mature Sexy” by one reviewer.

Jennifer is currently working on her second book, Out of the Box Regifted, and she has books 3 and 4 of the series in the works. Jennifer also has plans to co-write a new series, with a good friend, who shares her same passion for a good romance novel in the near future.